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Rifle Front Sights Some information about front sights may be helpful as an introduction to help make the best selection for your use. A well made front sight is critical to accuracy. We have three styles of Front Sights: Blades (Most accurate/durable/easily trimmed to height if needed, strongest, can be painted if desired) Beads: (Most traditional, easy to see, for some it feels more natural) Fiber Optics: (Easiest to see, fast target acquisition, good in very low light) FRONT SIGHT HEIGHTS ARE MEASURED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DOVETAIL TO THE TOP OF THE SIGHT FITTING: Dovetails vary in size between manufactures, models, even individual guns of the same make and model. Consequently, we make our front sight dovetails slightly oversize. Fitting instructions included with our rear sights or found at the bottom of this page. THIS IS HELPFUL INFORMATION WE HAVE TWO TYPES OF BLADE SIGHTS AVAILABLE Our NEW True PATRIDGE BLADE FRONT SIGHTS  (Shown here in ALL BRASS. Steel Pictures to come) These sights are machined from solid STEEL or BRASS Barstock. They have crisp serrated faces, square flat tops, and are the perfect PATRIDGE BLADE sight. Blades are .065" wide, dovetails are nominal 3/8" Patridge blade sights can be trimmed to height as needed. Since you are always shooting to the "tip" or "top" of the sight, the bullet point of impact is not covered up by a bead or fiber optic. This gives you more consistency in aiming. We make this sight in 3 base widths and several heights ~Widths~ 1/4" ~ 3/8" ~ 1/2" ~HEIGHTS~ .400" ~ .425" ~ .450" ~ .475" ~ .500" ~ .525" .550" ~ .575" ~ .600" ~ .625" Width is measured RIGHT to LEFT as viewed looking down the barrel Generally, 1/4" and 3/8" are used in conjunction with RAMPS and are sized to match the TOP of the ramp width. 1/2" wide bases are used in "direct to barrel dovetail" mounting without a ramp. A 3/8" wide base sight can look good in a slim octagon barrel or thinner round barrel. (often encountered in rimfire rifles) $25 in BLUED STEEL ~ $28 in SOLID BRASS Our GUIDE SERIES PATRIDGE BLADE FRONT SIGHTS These are our timeless sloped blade front sights. Each one is hand serrated to reduce glare yet, sloped forward to make getting the gun out of the scabbard or case easier. These sights (like all our sights) are machined from SOLID STEEL or BRASS Barstock.  Our GUIDE SERIES front sights come in three base widths 1/4" ~ 3/8" ~ 1/2" (Measurement is the base (right to left) as viewed looking down the barrel.)
The WIDTH of the base of the sight is the distance from LEFT TO RIGHT of the dovetail slot you have on your ramp or barrel. ALL OUR SIGHTS HAVE NOMINAL 3/8" DOVETAILS Available in BLUE STEEL or BRASS (Machined from solid bar stock) (Due to time constraints we no longer make custom height or width front sights.) Please use the drop boxes below to make your front sight selection. Our 1/4" base width sights are available in .400", .450", and .500" heights. 3/8" base width sights are available in .400", .450", .500" and .600" heights. 1/2" base width sights are available in .650" and .750" heights. These are generally tall enough to allow "trimming" to the exact height you may need.
Typically, 1/2" widths are used in applications where the front sight is dovetailed directly into the barrel while 1/4" and 3/8" widths are used on ramps. (except Rimfire Rifles with Octagon Barrels should use 3/8" base width sights) "BEAR BUSTER FRONT SIGHTS"  RUGGED and ACCURATE Available in Blued Steel, White Face, Brass Fits Guns with 1" C - C Hole Spacing 6-48 Screw size .560" Tall (Marlin 1895 and some 336 W / 1" Spacing) (Also available in a SINGLE SCREW Version for other applications) (Some 336 and 1894 Models have .700" spacing) TWO SCREW VERSION IS (since 2000) MARLIN 1895 / 336 RIFLES  Works GREAT With The MARLIN GUIDE GUN SERIES (.750" Barrel Contour)  MY FAVORITE! WHITE FACE (shows up in all light, easy to see)  SOLID BRASS ATTRACTIVE AND EASY TO SEE (Especially looks and works well on BLUE Guns) Machined from SOLID BARSTOCK BLADE IS .080" WIDE Blued Steel: $34 White Faced: $36 Solid Brass: $37 Screws and wrench provided. Screws may be slightly "over long" for your gun. We want you to have the most thread depth available. These ship with average "Guide Gun" length screws. If your holes are shallower, slight trimming may be necessary. SINGLE SCREW VERSION FOR .700" SPACED RIFLES AND MODEL 1894's Screw Size 6-48 THIS IS THE SIGHT FOR THE 1894 MARLIN RIFLES  Designed for use with the Marlins that have .700" C-C screw hole ramps. Uses a single screw but is very strong. Sight base covers the forward screw hole. AVAILABLE IN THE SAME MATERIALS AS OUR TWO SCREW MODEL SOLID BLUED STEEL / BLUED STEEL W/ WHITE LINE / SOLID BRASS
Note: This sight also works great on Shotguns, Handguns, Bolt guns, etc.
Height .550" / 1" OAL / Solid one Piece construction These sights are so strong, no "wings" necessary! Machined from Solid Barstock, can be "Trimmed" to height if needed. NOTE: No promises here but, THIS SIGHT is .560" tall (top of barrel to top of sight) and GENERALLY works with our SKINNER "EXPRESS" and SKINNER "ALASKAN" rear sights on the Marlin GUIDE GUNS. No returns for wrong height. It is what it is. .560" tall and trimmable as needed. Our Guide Series sights feature a .070" blade width and standard 3/8" dovetails. This "Post" style front sight is known as a "Patridge" sight. Testing has shown that a plain black post will give better grouping due to a more certain sight picture.  The SKINNER FRONT SIGHT is designed to be "Trimmed" to the exact height you need without changing width of the blade. They are made of good steel or brass and trim easily with a sharp file.
All our GUIDE SERIES Blade sights feature the "NO SNAG" Profile.
We do not make front sights in Stainless Steel because the color is not suitable for accurate target acquisition.
FRONT SIGHT PAINT PENS  Want to make that FRONT SIGHT really stand out??? Easy to apply, durable, ENAMEL paint in a LONG LASTING simple to use "PEN". Available in a THREE PACK of ORANGE / WHITE / and GREEN I've been using the white as a hunting sight and it works better than anything I've tried in all field conditions. (Unless you are hunting Mountain Goats or Polar Bears....) Put a base layer of WHITE down first, then TWO coats of ORANGE or GREEN for a brilliant color. (Allow all coats to dry completely before recoating)   I have used this paint in the field and it wears well! It is semi permanent and can be removed anytime with solvent. I recommend cleaning the surface of the sight with Alcohol, Lacquer Thinner, or Finger Nail Polish Remover before painting the sight. The paint flows and covers well for a solid color. $18 ~ THREE PACK
THE MOST COMMON QUESTION WE ARE ASKED IS: "What Height Front Sight Do I Need???" I appreciate communication with our customers however, internet time is limited (and takes time away from production) We often get emails asking, "Why can't you tell me, surely you know how tall it will need to be for (insert make, model, load info, etc)" or my favorite, "I know you say shoot first and see but.... surely you must know!" Trust me, if I could honestly say with certainty I would. Please see our FAQ Page first couple questions for my best explanation. Its not because we are ignorant or haven't thought it through. Bottom line, we have enough experience to not lie to you. PLEASE READ THIS PAGE CAREFULLY When the rear sight is raised, (ie: installing a receiver sight) a taller front sight will usually be needed. Occasionally the factory front will work but there are times when a taller front sight is needed. Our recommendation is "Shoot it and see..." Choosing the correct front sight requires Customer participation. By doing so, if a taller front sight is required, you can determine very closely how high it should be based on your shooting results. PLEASE VISIT OUR TECHNICAL INFO PAGE and FAQ Page. If you wish to order one of our Patridge front sights, the following are some approx. heights that may work on your rifle. _____________________________________________________________ FOR MARLIN LEVER ACTION RIFLES THESE ARE OUR SUGGESTED FRONT SIGHT HEIGHTS (ramp mount) FOR SKINNER APERTURE RECEIVER SIGHTS: Due to variables beyond our control we cannot guarantee these to be correct for your specific rifle. These are averages based on measurements and customer experiences.) These heights are on the TALL end and will allow you room to trim with a file to an exact fit. ALL HEIGHTS ARE MEASURED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DOVETAIL TO THE TOP OF THE SIGHT. FOR HENRY LEVER ACTION RIFLES PLEASE SEE THE NOTES INCLUDED WITH THE SIGHT DESCRIPTIONS ON OUR HENRY RIFLES PAGE. For Octagon Barrel Rifles (and guns with the front sight dovetailed directly into the barrel) Centerfire Calibers ~ .650" tall 1/2 inch wide base front sight. Rimfire Rifles ~ .600" tall, 3/8" wide base front sight. For Ramp Mounted Front Sights (Ramps are 1/4 or 3/8" wide at the top, order accordingly) (Measure right to left as looking down the barrel from the receiver) About Marlin Ramps These are typically (almost always) held on with two screws. One of those screws may be under the front sight dovetail. Early production hole spacing was .700" and later production (2000 and after) are 1.00" . There are some recent guns being made with one screw ramps. (336W) Some recent manufacture 1894 Marlins have .700" spacing. Please measure! _____________________________________________________________ FOR OTHER FIREARMS USING SKINNER APERTURES Our BARREL MOUNT sits approx. .300" above the top of the barrel and is .400" from the bottom of the dovetail to center of the aperture. Our barrel mount sight usually works with the factory installed front sight. The LO-Pro is about .275" from mounting surface (wherever you have installed it) and you can make some measurements on YOUR RIFLE to determine how high it will be above center of the bore and choose a front sight that will be approx. the same height above the centerline of your bore. (Customers report good success with the LO-Pro using the Factory Front Sight) ______________________________________________________________ Gun Manufactures have used many many different ramp/sight height combinations over the years. (Even for the same model rifles) There is no "standard" front sight height. It will help immeasurably if you have shot your rifle on paper with the new SKINNER rear sight and the factory front sight.  Front sights are made with a slightly oversize dovetail.  It will be necessary to use a Small Triangular File to fit the new sight to the dovetail slot. Do not file the dovetail on your rifle. This is a 10 minute job if you follow the directions below. Use SKINNER BLUE to touch up your work for that perfect finished look!  Brass Front Sight Mounted in a factory 3/8" Wide Ramp (Ramps mount with two screws) Factory Hoods will only work if the replacement sight is the same height as the factory front sight. Sights are available in BLUE and BRASS only. MARBLES UNI-RAMP FRONT SIGHTS  Mounted using one screw, (6-48) this one piece ramp/fiber optic sight could be the answer you are looking for. Available in two heights (.405" & .470") Made from solid steel with a blue finish Available for barrel contours .625", .750" and .875" Heights are measured from the top of the barrel to the top of the sight. Orange 3/4" long FIBER OPTIC ROD gives the shooter a glowing "dot" that shows up well in dim light. These sights cannot be changed in height so it is important to know the exact height needed for your rifle/load/shooter combination. (not generic make and model but YOUR rifle) This will only be determined by shooting your rifle with the Skinner Rear sight in place (on paper) BEFORE ordering this sight) Please read the information on our TECHNICAL PAGE and on our FAQ PAGE. No Returns on Uni-Ramp sights unless the sight itself is defective. Fiber Optic Rods can break and are not considered "defective" All information is available here and on our TECHNICAL page and FAQ page for the customer to determine if this sight is right for their application. FIBER OPTIC FRONT SIGHTS  Due to popular request: ORANGE fiber optic front sights. $20 These sights fit nominal 3/8" dovetails and have 3/8" wide bases. (.570" sight has a 3/8" dovetail and a 1/2" wide base) Available in 4 heights. .410" ~ .450" ~ .500" ~ .570" FIBER OPTIC ROD gives the shooter a glowing "dot" that shows up well in dim light. These sights cannot be changed in height so it is important that you know the correct height for your rifle/load/shooter combination. (not generic make and model but YOUR exact rifle) This will only be determined by shooting your rifle with the Skinner Rear sight in place (on paper) BEFORE ordering this sight) Please read the information on our TECHNICAL PAGE and on our FAQ PAGE. No Returns on these sights unless the sight itself is defective. Fiber Optic Rods can break and are not considered "defective" { ~ Please read the following ~ } All information is available here and on our TECHNICAL page and FAQ page for the customer to determine if this sight is right for their application. BRASS BEAD FRONT SIGHTS Although the "Patridge Blade" front sight is inherently more accurate than a bead, many customers prefer the round dot aiming point. Remember, a bead will cover your target and with a blade you are shooting to the top of the blade so point of impact is visible. For those who would like a bead we stock what we consider the best built bead sights (Marbles) on the market.
 Solid machined steel bases Standard 3/8" dovetails
1/16" (.062") Brass bead
Available in 9 heights
.260" ~ .570"
Non Returnable unless defective
Height is from bottom of dovetail to top of sight. Since these sights are not able to be shortened, please KNOW how tall of a sight you will need prior to ordering. All information is available here, on our TECHNICAL page, and FAQ page for the customer to determine if this sight is right for their application. $18 each
SHOTGUN RAMP ~ BEAD
6-48 Screw size  Skinner Sights "RAMP/BEAD" is perfect for Plain Barrel Shotguns, Turkey Guns, Combat Shotguns, and anywhere a solid, robust bead/ramp is needed Perfect for barrels that have been shortened 3/4" Radius on the bottom is a good average for most applications. Machined from solid steel barstock, uses a 6-48 screw to attach. Screw and Bead included. Some shotguns are predrilled for the 6-48, others will need a single hole drilled and tapped. We recommend this be performed by a Gunsmith or advanced hobbiest. $27  FITTING A FRONT SIGHT Remove the front sight from the rifle using a brass punch and a mallet. Drift the sight from left to right (as viewed from the rear sighting down the barrel) Hold the new sight to the right side of the slot and try to start the sight. If it will start then drift it into center position using the brass punch and mallet. If you cannot start it by hand, you will need to use a small TRIANGULAR FILE to remove some metal. Very little filing will be necessary. File a couple of strokes then check. First, with just a couple light file strokes, lightly dull the sharp edges.
Then: File only on the sloped side of the SIGHT dovetail and only file on one of the two surfaces. Keep fitting until the sight will push about 1/2 way across the dovetail slot with firm thumb pressure. Then tap into place with a BRASS or Nylon punch. Do not use excessive force... (If you are pounding to install the sight a bit more fitting is required) THE DOVETAIL ON THE SIGHT IS MADE SLIGHTLY OVERSIZE DUE TO VARIATIONS IN WIDTHS OF THE DOVETAIL SLOT ON THE GUN. The goal is a firm friction fit that cannot be moved by hand, but can be moved with gentle taps of a punch and mallet. QUESTION: "I've measured my sight (sharp to sharp edge) dovetail and it measures .376" The new SKINNER FRONT SIGHT measures .385". WHY did you make it so large?" ANSWER: A human hair is .003 - .004" The number on your caliper is really a small measurement. ANY "Blunting" of the sharp edge will result in MUCH smaller measurements. The only critical measurement is the relationship of the "slopes" to the flat bottom of the dovetail. This is very difficult to measure requiring a special fixture and ground and hardened pins. We have found that "Sharp to Sharp" (really sharp) a sight should be around .384" - .387" to not be loose in most rifle dovetails. Follow the fitting directions and it won't take too long to be up and shooting. Go slow... Only a tiny amount makes a big difference. FOR ANSWERS ABOUT FRONT SIGHT HEIGHT CALCULATIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR TECHNICAL INFO PAGE Or.... MAKE IT SIMPLE To move the impact 1 inch at 100 yards on a Marlin rifle with a 20" barrel requires .006" of sight change. (front or rear) For example: If you are shooting 6" low at 100 yards, your front sight needs to be "Trimmed" .036" shorter or the rear stem turned up 1 1/2 turns. If you are shooting 6" high at 100 yards your front sight needs to be .036" taller or the rear stem turned down 1 1/2 turns. (If your stem is already at the lowest position a taller front sight is required) If you are shooting at a shorter range than 100 yards adjust accordingly. 50 yards = 2 times the change needed. (.012" for 1" correction) 25 yards = 4 times the change needed. (.024" for 1" correction) |
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/ Andy Larsson - All Rights Reserved
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